Twitch Limits Streamer Storage to 100 Hours for Content

META_DESCRICAO: Twitch will cap highlights and uploads at 100 hours per channel starting April 19, citing high storage costs and low viewer engagement for the content.

TAGS: Twitch, Streaming, Content Creation, Amazon, VOD

CONTEUDO:

Twitch is set to implement a strict storage limit for creators, capping the total amount of highlights and uploaded videos at 100 hours per channel. The platform confirmed the policy change on Wednesday, stating that content exceeding this threshold will face automatic deletion.

The new storage policy is scheduled to take effect on April 19. According to the company, the restriction is a strategic move to manage infrastructure costs and reallocate resources toward more effective engagement tools. Twitch noted that while the storage of legacy content is expensive, the impacted data represents less than 0.1% of total hours watched and affects fewer than 0.5% of active channels.

Scope of the Changes

The 100-hour cap specifically targets two types of content:

• Highlights: Curated snippets edited from past broadcasts.
• Uploads: Videos uploaded directly to the platform.

Twitch clarified that standard Video on Demand (VOD), also known as past broadcasts, and short-form Clips will remain unaffected by this update. Past broadcasts are already subject to an existing automated deletion cycle after a set timeframe.

Shifting Focus to Discovery

The platform explained that its original intent for highlights was to help streamers showcase their best moments. However, internal data suggests these long-form reels are no longer driving significant discovery or viewer engagement compared to newer features. Instead, the company plans to focus its investment on tools such as the Mobile Discovery Feed, Tags, and Clips.

“Despite low effectiveness, some users have accrued thousands of hours of Highlights and Uploads over time,” the company stated in an official blog post. By trimming this storage, Twitch aims to improve resource efficiency and continue developing more impactful viewer-engagement features.

Streamer Response

The announcement has sparked immediate backlash among the creator community. Many streamers have taken to social media to voice their frustration, specifically highlighting the irony of the restriction given that Twitch is owned by Amazon, the parent company of the cloud infrastructure giant AWS.

For channels currently exceeding the 100-hour limit, the platform will begin deleting content starting with the least-viewed items. Twitch is advising all affected creators to download or export their archived videos before the April 19 deadline to avoid permanent data loss.